During the days spent in isolation, often it was the small moments spent in nature that kept so many tethered despite the unknown. Tracy Rose Stamper's poem, "Stone Silver Bird Blessings" explores this notion, and is now available to read in the print collective! Until then, I'm excited to chat about Tracy's pages penned in pandemic.
What does the pandemic currently look like in your city?
A red tide rising. A tsunami. Overwhelming. Terrifying. Unfathomable numbers crashing down upon us. It looks like we aren't listening.
What are some favorite books you've read during quarantine?
Happier at Home: Kiss More, Jump More, Abandon Self-Control, and My Other Experiments in Everyday Life by Gretchen Rubin. (Certainly seemed fitting, and was incredibly inspiring when inspiration felt hard to come by.) The Art of Sparkling: Share Your Inner Light With the World by by Becky Brittain. (Ahhhh.... salve for the soul!)
If you haven't been reading, what are some books you're most looking forward to reading?
I haven't yet been able to read Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor. I have this saved as a celebratory read once there is more hope on the horizon of the pandemic and once we as a country have made strides towards our black brothers and sisters being able to breathe deeper, with less terror.
Have there been any movies, tv shows, podcasts, etc. that have helped keep you at ease the past few months?
Rewatching Bruce Springsteen's movie Western Stars breathes hope back into me, reminding me of the search for meaning and the country I wish to inhabit. The classic movie All the President's Men brings solace that this country has gone through political theatre of the absurd before... and survived. Rachel Bernstein's “IndoctriNation” podcast has helped me understand how we have (hopefully temporarily) lost loved ones to cognitive dissonance. TV shows have been a panacea of divine distraction! “The Wire.” “Breaking Bad.” “Better Call Saul.” “Schitt's Creek.” I have watched more shows since March then I ever have before!
How has the pandemic affected your writing?
My writing during the pandemic mirrors my attention span. I find myself focusing primarily on shorter pieces. My writing feels disjointed, which is fitting, since much of the time I do, too.
Are there any projects you are excited to keep working on? If so, can you give us any details (no spoilers please!) about your project?
My longest-running, perpetual project: Home. Spending essentially all my time at home with my family has underscored the essential nature of our nest for coming together, finding safety and solace, exploring and expressing creativity, nurturing Love. Family. Belonging.
If asked ten years from now what the past few months have taught you about being a writer, what would come to mind?
Writers survive. The art and craft can be lifelines; creativity keeps blood pumping and hearts dreaming. The Muse shows up when least expected. Listen for her. Let her in. Dance with her.
Have there been any fellow writers or people in your life who have helped you stay connected during the pandemic?
Yes! Friend and fellow writer Aimee DuFresne - www.aimeedufresne.com - has been a lighthouse during these dark times. Always willing to cheer me on, share inspiration and pass along opportunities, giggle with me, our friendship stokes my creative fire.
Are you a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? Has this changed during the pandemic?
History had me pegged as a devout plotter: outlines, organization, charts, note cards, etc. Life's spontaneity lured me into pantsing. My happy place is a happy medium between these two poles. The pandemic, however, had different plans for me entirely. Inspiration arrives in fits and bursts on the will of the wind. Or... it doesn't. It is unpredictable and can't be forced. When an insight lands, I take it and run with it. Creativity fountains up, then disappears during dry spells. Grappling with the overwhelming anxiety of the times, I find that creativity is at times squelched. I am learning to ride the wave of creativity when it reappears. It helps me navigate these trying (and hopefully transformational) times. The writing lesson that the pandemic seems to most want me to learn is to trust that the Muse always returns.
If you curated a playlist for writing life in the pandemic, what top 5 songs would be on your list?
1.) “Stones” by Bruce Springsteen
2.) ‘Don't Give Up” by Peter Gabriel
3.) “Finally Home” by Vonda Shepard
4.) “You're All I Need To Get By” by Aretha Franklin
5.) “Freedom” by George Michael
Is there anything else you would like to share?
Thank you. Thank you for modeling resilience, fostering creativity, and inviting connection. Ever since I first crossed paths with the words Pages Penned in Pandemic, they have called to me.
ABOUT Tracy Rose Stamper
Tracy Rose Stamper dances with words. Her recently acquired middle name is the most significant word she has written lately during these days asking us to rise. She lives in a home on a hill in St. Louis with two beloved humans, two rescue beagle boys, and two whimsical wind sculptures. She is a columnist at Rebelle Society, contributing author of Anna Linder’s The Book of Emotions, and has had work appear in Drunk Monkeys, New Feathers Anthology, Dime Show Review, Feels, and Six Sentences, among others. You can find her dancing with words on Facebook.
Thanks for chatting, Tracy!
